The anticipation for the Indian squad announcement for the Asia Cup is building, with the selection meeting scheduled for August 19 in Mumbai. While the final team composition remains uncertain, reports indicate that Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj might miss out on the tournament.
Gill and Siraj showcased strong performances during India’s recent England tour. Gill accumulated 750 runs in the 5-Test series, while Siraj claimed 23 wickets. However, the Asia Cup will utilize a white ball in the T20 format, a departure from the red ball used in Tests. Despite Gill’s IPL success, the selectors are reportedly hesitant to alter the current opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. Consequently, the chances of Gill and Siraj featuring in the Asia Cup appear slim.
A third opening batsman might be needed. Yashasvi Jaiswal is a strong contender for this position. The final decision could also depend on the team’s coach. If the coach favors Gill, the Test captain might be included in the team.
Other batsmen in contention include Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rinku Singh. Jitesh Sharma could be selected as the second wicketkeeper. Shreyas Iyer, who passed his fitness test, might also be considered as an extra batsman, but if the team prioritizes a player who can also bowl, Iyer could be left out, potentially opening doors for Washington Sundar or Shivam Dube.
Hardik Pandya is expected to be included, adding strength to both batting and bowling. Jasprit Bumrah will likely lead the pace attack, which could feature Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana. There is also a possibility that only one of Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana will be selected. The chances of Mohammed Shami’s inclusion in the pace attack seem low.
In the spin department, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, and Ravi Bishnoi are reportedly likely to be selected. Axar Patel, the T20 team’s vice-captain, is another option. Washington Sundar, who was part of India’s last T20 match, could also be considered, but his selection is not guaranteed.